Q. Montreal has been snow-free for over a month. Why have no lines been painted on major roads yet? Examples: Dr. Penfield and des Pins Aves., between Peel and University Sts.

Steve

A. The city repaints all crosswalks, bike paths and car lanes every year and that takes time, says Anie Samson, Montreal executive committee member responsible for public safety and services to citizens.

The work starts after the thaw and Montreal experienced a long winter. “This year, we started later than usual — in late April, early May — because of the cold temperatures,” she said.

Workers also have to clean streets before they can be painted, she added.

It takes about six months for the entire road network to be repainted.

Crosswalks are repainted first, followed by bike lanes and areas near schools, with other lines pained next, Samson said.

Most boroughs rely on a specialized street-marking crew that works out of the Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie borough. All boroughs are treated equally. “It’s not because a borough yells louder that its streets are repainted first,” she said.

Samson, mayor of the Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough, said the lines must be repainted every year due to usage and weather conditions.

The city has switched from oil-based to water-based paint for environmental reasons. Both types last about six months to a year, she said.

The city has tested a different type of paint that lasts two to four years. But it was rejected because it was thicker than regular paint, meaning lines protruded a few millimetres on the roadway. The city concluded that snow-clearing machinery would rip it off the road.

Montreal realizes the lines wear out, Samson said. That’s why it is increasingly adding signage. “That way people can’t say they don’t know” about crosswalks and bike paths,” she said.

Concordia buses will use Sherbrooke bus lane

Q. Will Concordia buses be able to use the new reserved lane on Sherbrooke St.?

Martin

A. Yes, they will, says university spokesperson Chris Mota. The bus lane — which runs between Elmhurst St. and Girouard Ave. in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce — officially opens on Monday.

Concordia operates shuttles between its Loyola campus in western N.D.G. and its Sir George Williams campus, in downtown Montreal, just east of Guy St.

Mota said Concordia buses will use the Société de transport de Montréal’s Sherbrooke reserved lane but only between Elmhurst and Cavendish Blvd.

Roadwork in and around N.D.G. is causing traffic turmoil in the area, complicating drives to and from downtown. Mota said the routes taken by Concordia shuttles change, based on traffic and roadwork.

During a regular university semester, the university transports about 4,000 passengers per week. Concordia normally operates four buses. During the summer, only one does the run.

Highway 20 reserved bus lane to open in September

Q. When will the reserved bus lane on Highway 20 eastbound open? I see construction cones everywhere and was under the impression that the reserved lane would open in the spring.

Norayr

A. Several months of work remain to be done. The new Highway 20 lane — from Bouchard Blvd. in Dorval to 1st Ave. in Lachine — is expected to open in September, said Mario St-Pierre, a spokesperson for Transport Quebec.

AMT invites train riders to online meeting

Montreal’s commuter train authority is holding an online public consultation on Monday, at 7 p.m.

Transit users can send questions, comments and complaints in advance via an online form at amt.qc.ca, or post them during the meeting. The online event comes after the Agence métropolitaine de transport held public meetings for users of each of its five train lines over the past few weeks.

Laval gives youth transit discount this summer

The Société de transport de Laval has introduced a discounted summer fare for students under 18 years of age who have an Opus card with photo. The new “Xtra” fare costs $59.50 and allows for unlimited travel on Laval buses in July and August. Normally, the discounted rate student transit rate is $52 per month.

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